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Press Release

ADL Welcomes Bipartisan Progress Toward Immigration Reform

Washington, DC, April 17, 2013 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today applauded the “Gang of Eight” Senators’ release of historic legislation, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act (PDF), which includes increased border security, a pathway to citizenship for immigrants contributing to American society, and reform of the legal immigration system.

The bill also facilitates entry to the U.S. for certain high risk refugee groups including Jews and other religious minorities fleeing Iran.

Barry Curtiss-Lusher, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director issued the following statement:

We applaud the “Gang of Eight” for coming together to recognize the urgency of creating a real roadmap to citizenship for immigrants who are contributing to American society.

The bill provides a sound bipartisan basis to advance reform of America’s immigration system in a way that reflects our values of ensuring that immigrants have fair and equal access to the American dream.

We are particularly glad to see the bill’s inclusion of law enforcement training in areas like the appropriate use of force, respect for individual rights, and the need for sensitivity to law enforcement’s impact on communities.

The legislation is an important start. We look forward to working with Congress going forward to ensure that the path to citizenship is credible, and that enforcement tools like the mandatory worker verification program protect from abuse and profiling.

We hope Members of Congress and all Americans will follow the lead of the “Gang of Eight” and conduct a respectful debate that focuses on solutions and lives up to our country’s highest ideals.

ADL has advocated for fair and humane immigration policies since its founding in 1913. ADL has helped expose anti-immigrant hate that has been a fixture of the current immigration debate, and has called for a responsible public debate that will honor America’s history as a nation of immigrants.